Head of Corporate Communications

World Rugby; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

World Rugby seeks a Head of Corporate Communications based in Dublin or London to lead global PR strategy and corporate storytelling. You will shape narratives, manage media engagement and stakeholder relations to support growth and reputation.

You have 5+ years in senior corporate communications roles in sport or fast-paced organisations, with experience in strategy, messaging, and issues management; rugby knowledge and languages are advantageous.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years in a senior corporate communications role in sport or a fast-paced organisation with emphasis on strategy, narrative and messaging development, stakeholder management and media engagement.
• Rugby knowledge and languages are desirable.
• Willingness for global travel and out-of-hours work.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a public relations strategy for major target growth markets in line with World Rugby’s strategic plan.
• Develop and deliver a strategy for managing World Rugby’s reputation on issues relating to player welfare and the laws of the game.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with core stakeholders to align the rugby ecosystem around key developments.
• Managing issues management communications strategy execution.
• Manage World Rugby’s reputation with national governments on issues of reputational importance outside of Rugby World Cup structures as required.
• Act as a spokesperson for the organisation with the media where required.
• Manage the budget in each of the above areas and of any World Rugby corporate communications agency project or retainers.
• Other reasonable duties as set out by the Chief Communications Officer.
• Be available out of hours and at weekend as required especially during World Rugby tournaments, such as men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups.

Skills

Narrative development

Messaging development

Stakeholder management

Media engagement

Public relations strategy

Strategic planning

Budget management

Job description

Job description:

Head of Corporate Communications
(Based in Dublin or London)

Overview

World Rugby’s corporate reputation is at the heart of its ability to deliver against its key strategic objectives – aligning stakeholders and earning the permission for the organisation and the sport to communicate its messages with clarity and confidence.

The corporate communications role supports World Rugby’s strategic goals by both ensuring that the organisation’s reputation enable maximum revenues to be generated for the game and to manage the wider team in raising the profile of key initiatives and competitions.

The communications team covers a broad remit to grow the sport’s visibility, audience base and increase trust with fans. The right candidate for this job will have the ability to mix day to day communications delivery with the ability to tackle problems at a strategic level.

The ideal candidate will preferably have a minimum of five years experience of working in a senior role in corporate communications within sport or a fast‑paced organisation with a focus on strategy development, narrative and messaging development, stakeholder management and media engagement. Rugby knowledge and languages are preferable.

This role involves global travel and out of hours work, and we are looking for someone with energy, enthusiasm and the ability to successfully integrate within a broad range of teams across the business.

Principal Accountabilities

• Develop and maintain a public relations strategy for major target growth markets in line with World Rugby’s strategic plan.
• Develop and deliver a strategy for managing World Rugby’s reputation on issues relating to player welfare and the laws of the game.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with core stakeholders to align the rugby ecosystem around key developments.
• Managing issues management communications strategy execution.
• Manage World Rugby’s reputation with national governments on issues of reputational importance outside of Rugby World Cup structures as required.
• Act as a spokesperson for the organisation with the media where required.
• Manage the budget in each of the above areas and of any World Rugby corporate communications agency project or retainers.
• Other reasonable duties as set out by the Chief Communications Officer.
• Be available out of hours and at weekend as required especially during World Rugby tournaments, such as men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups.

Key Skills and Attributes

• Quick thinking, calm and decisive under pressure.
• Creative problem-solver, able to work with others to find creative solutions and respond to new opportunities.
• Culturally aware with a global perspective on audiences and content.
• A passion for sport and a desire to contribute to the further growth of Rugby.
• Adept at working under pressure in a fast‑paced environment, delivering work to deadlines and honouring commitments.